Freedom week at Otis A. Mason Elementary

Students in Bonne Patrick's kindergarten class at Mason Elementary School did it up in red, white and blue last month, when they celebrated the Sept. 20-25 Freedom Week.

Math and social studies were integrated in the activity of creating an American flag on the school fence. Red, white and blue plastic cups were provided by parents for the project.

"Creating the 10 rows of blue was easy," writes Patrick. "Creating the 13 rows of red and white cups in a red, white pattern was a challenge."

The project was accomplished by seven students who practiced the math skill of counting by gathering 10 blue plastic cups each. Next, the remaining 13 students counted 15 red or white plastic cups and lined up in a red, white pattern order.

This took a few practices to be successful at the math skill of patterning, says Patrick.

"Then, students walked in a pattern order outside to the fence and took turns placing each cup in the fence to form a replica of our country's flag."

The project concluded with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Other school-wide activities included:

Singing of the National Anthem and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on the Mason morning news.

Learning about the symbols of America -- American flag, Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell and the American Eagle.

Learning of patriotic songs like "This Land is My Land."

Learning and reciting the Preamble to the Constitution and Statement of Rights for the Declaration of Independence.

Studying the history of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.